5 Tips for Stress Free Party Planning

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhenImHungry #CollectiveBias

With fun outdoor celebrations right around the corner (think Easter, graduations, outdoor BBQs and cookouts, and weddings), we wanted to take a little time to discuss some of our favorite tips for stress free party planning!  Alyssa is a fantastic hostess, so we put our heads together and came up with some great tips for a successful event in partnership with SNICKERS® and their #WhenImHungry campaign!

(Aw, thanks, Carla! I just have lots of practice and come from a big family that gets together often! xo, A)

1. Lists, lists, lists.  Make grocery lists, write lots of to do lists (both for the days leading up to the party and for the day of the party), and make a list of attendees and any food allergies or eating restrictions. 

2. Stay hydrated.  You’ll be on your feet a lot and want to be alert and energetic.  Drinking lots of water is key, and if you need a boost you can always throw in some tea or coffee for a bit of caffeine.

 3. Make organization part of the decor by creating fun place settings or interesting labels for the food.  We love monogram chalk placemats or gilded animals announcing what dishes you’re serving. 

4. Choose a few dishes you can make ahead of time, especially appetizers.  That way your guests won’t starve if you’re running a few behind, and you’re not trying to do EVERYTHING the day of the party!  You also want to be able to relax and enjoy your company, rather than slave over a hot stove all night.  We recommend chips & homemade salsa or sweet potato & miso dumplings.  

You can also make a beautiful drink ahead of time, like refreshing watermelon aqua fresca.

5. Keep a snack on hand.  You may not need a full meal leading up to the event because you’ll be sampling all the goodies you’re making, but that can catch up to you! 

Alyssa: I’ve realized that I was starving on multiple occasions, about an hour before a dinner party.  Add the stress of getting yourself ready, last minute decorations, any cleaning, and (of course) getting the food ready, and I’ve had some minor meltdowns that could have easily been prevented by keeping my blood sugar up with a little snack!  Don’t make this mistake too!

Carla: I’ve been working on planning for my family to come over for Easter this year.  (My first time hosting since I have lots of space now!)  I headed to CVS to shop for a few party supplies (paper plates and sponges- a winning combo) and picked up some SNICKERS® bars right at the front while I was checking out. 

My plan is to set these right out on the counter while I’m cooking this weekend.  Setting myself up for success is so crucial- when I’m hungry, it seems like everything goes wrong.  And I often don’t even notice!  I wonder why I’ve been griping over small things and why the mistakes keep coming and why everyone has mysteriously left the kitchen.  Don’t do what I do and lose your moral support: make sure you’re snack-ready and you have plenty extra to share with your helpers.

For extra fun, enter the SNICKERS® “Who are you when you’re hungry?” contest by uploading a personal photo or video from your Computer, Facebook, Instagram or use the SNICKERS® Meme Generator to create something new! Voting begins at Noon on 5/11/15 and ends at 11:59:59AM ET on 7/15/15.

And if you want to see the other tips and recipes folks are creating to keep themselves calm, cool and collect check out the SNICKERS® social hub!

What are your best party planning tips?  And who are YOU when you’re hungry?